Saturday, December 06, 2008

Morgan, Te Heuheu make power list

The chief executive for the Federation of Maori Authorities has been picked out as the top powerbroker in Maoridom in the annual Listener survey.

Paul Morgan won the accolade for his energetic and astute lobbying on behalf of the Maori incorporations, trusts and boards which make up FOMA's membership, particularly in relation to the impact of the Emissions Trading Scheme on Maori landowners.

Tuwharetoa chief Tumu Te Heuheu was ranked the fourth most powerful person in the country because of his role pulling together central North Island iwi into the half billion dollar Treelord forestry settlement.

New Maori Affairs minister Pita Sharples jumped from ninth to sixth position, with the judging panel rating his winning personality and his cross over appeal to Pakeha.

Maori Television is welcoming a ministerial review of its governing Act.

The five year review, by veteran broadcasters Tainui Stephens and Hone Edwards and lawyer Jane Huria, is a statutory requirement of that act.

MTS Communications manager Sonya Haggie says the Act has worked well, but it may need some refreshing.

“The Act when it was first drafted was very much an act that was targeted to Maori television in terms of a start-up. We’re now five years old, it’s time to review the act because we’re not in start-up m ode any more. What we’ll be looking for out of the review is an act that ensures Maori Television as a broadcaster can continue to develop and make strides as an indigenous broadcaster for Aotearoa New Zealand,” Ms Haggie says.

The Review panel is expected to report to the ministers of Maori Affairs and Finance by the middle of next year.

RESTORED POUHAKI REDEDICATED FOR CAMBRIDGE MUSEUM SITE

An 8 metre pouhaki gifted in 1920 in Rotorua to Crown Prince Edward was today rededicated at its new home in Cambridge University's anthropology museum.

The flagpole, which was carved from a single trunk by Te Arawa master carver Tene Waitere, has for more than 80 years stood in a rose garden in a naval base in Portsmouth in southern England.

Historic Places Trust conservator James Schuster, Waitere's great grandson, says the navy agreed to a long term loan of the pouhaki after he advised them it was at risk of blowing over in the next storm.

“It had been exposed to the rain and the sun. The elements had aged it. Nothing had been done to keep it looking good. It had no paint left on it, no paua eyes left on it. And it also had woodpecker hole in it. Woodpeckers aren’t something we have problem with at home,” Mr Schuster says.

The rededication ceremony also included a contribution from London-based kapa haka Ngati Ranana.

SHARPLES GETS BIG KAHUNGUNU WELCOME

The new Maori Affairs Minister has been welcomed home by Ngati Kahungunu.

Pita Sharples was given a mass powhiri today at his old school Te Aute College, halfway between Hastings and his birthplace Waipawa.

The powhiri followed the form composed by Dr Sharples for last month's Takitimu Festival.

He says it was a great honour.

“I spent eight years as the chairman of the tribe way back and I stay really close and I’m very proud of our tribal runanga and our leaders so it’s a great honour for me,” Dr Sharples says.

He says it was Ngati Kahungunu who pushed him off to university, setting the course for his subsequent career.

ANTI VIOLENCE HUI LOOKS AT NEXT STEP AFTER SMACK BAN

They may have been preaching to the choir... but the trust set up to tackle Maori child abuse is happy with its first community workshops.

Anton Blank from Te Kahui Mana Ririki says the hui in Rangitukia and Hastings attracted a mix on community workers and people interested in non-violent parenting.

He says it's raising some useful questions for people working with Maori families.

“Even though they believe in non-violence, I don’t think many providers have made that next step into thinking OK, how do we train families to discipline now that they effectively can’t smack their children,” Mr Blank says,

Te Kahui Mana Ririki will assess feedback from the hui before hitting the road again next year.

SWIM LESSONS UNAFFORDABLE FOR MANY

The manager of Maori programmes for Water Safety New Zealand says too many rangatahi are leaving school unable to swim.

Mark Haimona says maintenance costs have forced many schools to close their pools.

He says Maori parents often can't afford professional tuition or don't see the need, so their tamariki are in vulnerable around water.

If they are not getting taught at schools, private swimming lessons may be unaffordable, especially for larger Maori families.

The Greens has called on the government to boost school swimming programmes after researcher found a quarter of year 6 pupils struggle to tread water or swim 25 meters.

MAORI LEAD GLOBAL SPREAD OF TOUCH

Maori are taking touch rugby global.

The coaching development manager for New Zealand Touch, Peter Walters, says it's one of the fastest growing sports in New Zealand with over 300,000 players.

They take the game with them when they travel, as he's found when he run's into Maori players as far afield as Barcelona, San Diego, and Ireland.

“Just wherever they are, be it for work or OE, and they get a group together and they play touch on a Sunday. Next thing that nation is starting up a team, so they actually play a big role in the global development of our sport,” Mr Walters says.

He’ll be on the field again this weekend playing for the Tamaki Makaurau Open Mixed Team at the National Maori Touch Tournament in Hopuhopu.

Friday, December 05, 2008

Maori Television gets five year review

As birthday presents go it's not at the top the wishlist for most five year olds, but Maori Television is getting a review.

Veteran broadcasters Tainui Stephens and Hone Edwards and lawyer Jane Huria have looked at how the channel is performing and whether its legislation is effective.

Mr Stephens says Maori Television has won the endorsement of Pakeha policy leaders.

“They acknowledge that the channel has achieved what they call universal affection. There’s an awful lot of people tuning in to the Maori Television Service every month. In any given month up to 1.6 million people tuned in at some time to see what’s on Maori Television,” Mr Stephens says.

The review panel aims to report to the Ministers of Finance and Maori Affairs by the middle of next year.

CLIMATE CHANGE SUBJECT OF INDIGENOUS HUI

Taranaki Maori are hosting indigenous people from around the globe to discuss the impact of climate change on first nations peoples.

Organiser Sandra Julian says it's the first Snowflake conference to be held in the southern hemisphere, and fulfils a dream of the late Taranaki kuia, Mahinekura Reinsfield, who died from cancer a year ago.

The reknowned healer attended two of the previous hui held in the Arctic circle, and invited delegates to meet at her home marae, Owae in Waitara.

“Niwa has been doing research around Maori environmental knowledge down to a big of grassroots stuff from one of our local hapu talking about the erosion of waahi tapu because of rising sea levels,” Ms Julian says.

RURAL MAORI LACKING SWIMMING TEACHING

The man charged with spreading the water safety message to Maori says many teachers need extra help to teach children to swim.

Mark Haimona says New Zealanders take it for granted that every child will learn water skills, but a quarter of year 6 students can't swim 25 metres.

He says many schools have closed their pools for cost reasons, and many teachers don't feel confident about taking swimming classes.

If tamariki don't learn in the school pool, they may end up learning in more dangerous environments.

“I don't generally see a lot of the Maori kids that go to pools and swim laps. Generally you see a lot of them in the open environments, the rivers and sea and oceans doing stuff,” Mr Haimona says.

Maori are unlikely to get their children private swimming lessons.

LIMITED STATE HOUSE PROVISION STILL NEEDED

Prime Minister John Key says the private sector may not be able to provide enough quality low cost housing to meet the country's needs.

National plans to cap the number of state houses, and divert resources into upgrading existing properties.

Mr Key says many are no better than slums, and contribute to serious health problems for many children.

But he says there will always be a need for some state housing.

“You know there’s always going to be a mixture. We live in a Kiwi world where the Kiwi dream is to own a house. I think that’s great. It’s not always the case for a lot of people. It’s been out of their reach. It’s one of the things we’ve got to work on. Renting is a very credible option for a lot of people because of what’s happening in their life. There might be a lot of factors that make sense at the time. But I don’t think, in terms of quality low cost housing, that is always going to be possible through the private sector,” Mr Key says.

The state also provides private sector landlords almost a billion dollars a year in the accommodation subsidy for low income tenants.

There are currently 10,000 people on Housing Hew Zealand's waiting list, including 270 with severe housing need and 4000 with significant need.

PRESSURE ON TO CONSUMATE AQUACULTURE SETTLEMENT

South Island Maori are keen for the new government to hurry up and implement the aquaculture settlement agreed with the previous government.

Ngai Tahu, the eight top of the South Island iwi and Hauraki, who collectively account for about 90 percent of the country's developed aquaculture space, struck the $97 million deal in October.

Ngai Tahu chairperson Mark Solomon says in effect it brought forward by five years the implementation of the 2004 Maori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement Act, which entitled Maori to 20 percent of developed space or its cash equivalent.

“From a Ngai Tahu perspective we never ever thought the Government would be able to deliver the pre-settlement space. You can’t force people to sell out of their investments. So they’ve agreed to, as part of the settlement it’s valued out, we’ve agreed on an allocation amongst ourselves and a value with the government. Now we wait for it to go through legislation,” Mr Solomon says.

TOUCH STARTING TO APPEAL TO HAPU TEAMS

Organisers of this weekend's National Maori Touch Tournament are detecting a pick up in identification with iwi and hapu.

Dozens of teams are expected at Hopuhopu for what is one of the fastest growing sporting codes in the country.

Gerard Ngawati says the tournament was started to encourage whanau living in the urban centres to reconnect with their hapu and iwi.

He says initially most of the teams represented takiwa or regions.

“Ten years down the track the emphasis is now on iwi and hapu identification and there’s a lot less takiwa representation,” Mr Ngawati says.

Players who shine at this weekend's tournament will be picked for development squads with an eye to the World Indigenous Touch Tournament, which will be held in Rotorua in 2010.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Maori Party knew of house plan

The Prime Minister says Maori Party leaders were given a heads up on Nationals plans to upgrade existing state houses rather than build new ones.

John Key says he and Tariana Turia inspected state houses in Porirua last year and were alarmed at the condition of many of them.

He says it's an important issue for the Maori Party that the state risks becoming a slum landlord.

"You got a lot of youngsters, and that's a fair lot of Maori and Pacific Island kids living in conditions which are not helping their health outcomes and you can see that in number of youngsters in low socioeconomic groups who are turning up to hospital very early on in their life, recording diseases which shouldn't be happening in a first world country like New Zealand," Mr Key says.

He says the upgrading project will provide some relief for the construction sector.

CONFIDENCE THE KEY TO YOUNG MOTHER'S SCHEME

Building confidence is the aim of a south Auckland programme to support Maori teenage mothers.

Founder Rose Whaiapu says the Taonga programme now runs two creches where the rangatahi wahine can leave their children while they complete their education.

She says the idea was to not only help them with their academic progress but also to give practical and life skills in how to be teenagers, be mothers, look after their babies and themselves.

"Seven years on we're still there. We thought after a year we'd be able to move on, but it's grown," Mrs Whaiapu says.

WHANAU APPROACH HELPING BASKETBALL TEAM

The introduction of whanau values is being credited with driving the New Zealand Breakers to the top of the Australian Basketball League.

Te Arapi Maipi, who calls the Breakers games for Maori Television, says the entire franchise from the front office to the youth teams is a close-knit unit.

There's been a change in attitude as the team goes on court expecting it can beat whoever's on there.

After tonight's game against the Townsville Crocodiles, the Breakers have a two week break a before taking on the Sydney Spirit.

Parekura Horomia says the country is looking at a repeat of National's last term in government, where its first move was to sell off as many state houses as it could.

He says Maori will be squeezed out of the housing market.

"When you start getting the market moving from where we had it, 5 percent deposit, 10 percent maximum, now the banks are asking 20 percent minimum, then you really have a situation that makes it difficult for our people," Mr Horomia says.

Prime Minister Key says he has support from the Maori Party for his plans to fix existing state houses, rather than build new ones.

POUWHAKATAKI PREPARE FOR BIG YEAR

The Education Ministry's 24 Maori community liaison officers have been meeting in Wellington to swap notes about the year just ended and look forward to the year ahead.

The west Auckland pouwhakataki, Gerard Ngawati, says the main role of the officers is to help students access the information they need to advance in the system.They also try to get parents more involved in the education of their tamariki.

"Schools can be a frightening place for our Maori parents for a number of reasons but we try to encourage parents to be more active and more inquisitive about what happens at school and the opportunities that are there for their tamariki," Mr Ngawati says.

Associate education minister Pita Sharples spent some time with the pouwhakataki.

CLIMATE CHANGE HUI AT WAITARA UNITES INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

A climate change hui in Waitara is looking at the challenges facing indigenous peoples.

Organiser Sandra Julian says delegates from 25 countries are at the Snowchange 2008 conference to share stories about how global warming is affecting them.

People from the Arctic circle are concerned at receding snowlines and permafrost, while people in the Pacific including Maori are already seeing the impact of rising sea levels.

Ms Julian says delegates from as far away as Finland, Siberia and Alaska are making themselves at home at Owae marae.

The five day hui is in honour of the late Taranaki elder Mahinekura Reinsfield, who attended the two previous Snowchange hui in the Arctic circle.

Education solutions need implementing

Former ACT MP Donna Awatere-Huata is challenging the new minister of Maori Affaris to deliver in his secondary portfolio... education.

Mrs Awatere-Huata, who was the first Maori educational psychologist, now drives education services for West Auckland's Waipareira Trust.

She says the solutions to Maori underachievement in schools are known, as was shown by the three education hui hosted this year by National Urban Maori Authorities.

“The answers are there. We don’t have to invent anything. All we have to do is ask the experts who have been working in this area for 30 years, What’s lacking is the political will and I do believe with Pita Sharples as associate minister of education we’re finally going to get some traction,” Mrs Awatere Huata says.

The Maori Party should push for programmes which support the families of children who are struggling at school, because that's often where the problem lies.

HEALTH PROVIDERS QUIZZED ON NEEDS

The Health Ministry's Maori directorate is consulting Maori health providers on what more can be done to see them survive and develop.

Teresa Wall, the director general for Maori health, says the hui have discussed issues like sustainability, the barriers to their mahi, and workforce recruitment and retention.

She says the number of providers has swelled over the past decade, and there have been major changes in the sector with the evolution of general practice into public health organisations.

“One of the long-standing issues that hasn’t been addressed is how do non-government organisations fit in the PHO environment and also there’s some noise about funding models and we’re trying to quantify are there funding models being enablers for Maori health providers or are they barriers,” Ms Wall says.

Many Maori health providers are now incorporating GP practices into their organiations.

MAORI IN ICT LOOKING FOR COLLABORATION

Maori involved in information and communications technologies are looking to collaborate more after a successful workshop yesterday.

Te Huarahi Tika Maori spectrum trust brought together groups ranging from content providers like the people behind Maori Google, Tangatawhenua dot com and the Naumai place marae bulletin board ... television and radio broadcasters, and Tuaropaki Trust and Tuhoe, who are building communications networks.

Trust chair Mavis Mullins says people were able to see opportunities to work together.

“It could be round the spectrum. It could be round some of these content guys working with iwi and working with the incorporations to assist with the development of their communications strategy, how does someone like Paraninihi ki Waitotara Incorporation reach out to 8000 shareholders and so a lot of the content guys are saying here's some options,” Mrs Mullins says.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES LACKING IN PRISONS

The Green's law and order spokesperson is welcoming a call for better mental health services in prisons.

In her annual report, chief ombudsman Beverley Wakem says prisoners and staff are being put at risk because there aren't enough inpatient facilities.

Metiria Turei says the report points to the risks in policies pushed by National and ACT to build more prisons, toughen bail laws and give extended sentences to repeat offenders.

“It will keep more and more people in prison who actually need mental health assistance or who need drug and alcohol rehabilitation or violence programmes, other means that could deal with their problems, eliminate the reasons they reoffend, and integrate them back in the community,” Ms Turei says.

Many of the people who end up in prison because of a lack of community support systems are Maori.

HUI NEEDS FOLLOW UP TO CREATE ALTERNATIVE JUSTICE

An outspoken Maori lawyer wants less rhetoric and action in the wake of last week's Maori and Criminal Justice Hui

Annette Sykes says the hui hosted by Hawkes Bay iwi Ngati Kahungunu confirmed Maori laws and methods of dispute resolution are still used today on marae.

She says Maori make up half a million of New Zealand's four million population, and they should be working towards their own system.

“I mean I look at the commercial world, there might be 500,000 business people, they hardly use the courts. They use their own dispute resolution services and mediation and other forums. They are supported and recognized by the state for that. We need to be doing our own and getting that recognition as of right from the state, but we should not wait for that recognition to grow these things,” Ms Sykes says.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT HELPING TEEN MUMS MOVE ON

One of the principals behind a programme that supports Maori teenage mothers in Manukau City, is crediting community support for its success.TAONGA, which stands for Totally acknowledging our next generation's abilities, operates two creches which care for babies while their mums study.Rose Whaiapu says over its seven years, many of the young women have secured NCEA credits and gone on to tertiary education.

She says dozens of whanau members turned out to a graduation ceremony last week to support the mums.

The Taonga programme is supported by Manukau City Council, Te Puni Kokiri and James Cook High School.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Te Aurere battered on coast run

Te Aurere reached New Plymouth this afternoon after bypassing Kawhia because of rough conditions.

The voyaging waka is on a circumnavigation of the North Island, offering rangatahi a chance to experience a traditional sailing experience and learn some of the traditions.

Skipper Hekenukumai Busby says the first 12 hours of Manukau went well, but rough seas meant it hove to in a bay on the Waikato west coast for running repairs.

“The waves weren't too bad but there were huge swells and the water breaking over some times onto the deck so we decided to hove to and of course we broke our main steering paddle too through that and so why we decided we best take our time and wait,” Mr Busby says.

Te Aurere will probably stay in Taranaki until Friday or Saturday, with its next stop Whanganui.

EARLY ILLITERACY LEADING TO LATER BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS

The head of Waipareira's education strategy says early literacy is the key to keeping Maori kids at school.

Donna Awatere-Huata says criticism by the Ombudsman of the way teenagers with behaviour problems are dealt with in mainstream schools has highlighted a common problem.

The former MP, a qualified child psychologist, says those sorts of problems start early, with poor reading and writing skills.

“So a lot of these behaviour problems actually stem from what happens in the first couple of years at school where the teachers are not meeting Maori, and especially Maori boys’ needs so they then get on the track where they can’t read, they can’t learn, and they basically opt out,” Mrs Awatere Huata says.

The end result is unacceptable numbers of young Maori leaving schools with few or no qualifications.

INSULATION NEEDED FOR HEALTH BENEFITS

As the Government floats the idea of capping state house construction so it can upgrade its existing housing stock, a health lobbyist is calling for similar pressure to go on private landlords.

Jane Patterson from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation says making landlords comply with the government's home energy ratings system would cut the number of Maori presenting to the health system with respiratory problems.

She says research in Maori communities by the University of Otago in Wellington, shows a strong link between poorly insulated homes and respiratory conditions.

Clear guidelines exist for fixing the problem from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency, which provides subsidies for insulation.

MENTORING GIVES STUDENTS EDGE FOR MCLEOD SCHOLARSHIP

Two Maori medical students have been rewarded for their academic excellence, leadership qualities and commitment to Maori health.

Maia Melbourne-Wilcox and Andrea Cross were chosen from more than 500 hauora Maori scholars to receive this year's John McLeod Scholarships.

Ms Melbourne-Wilcox from Ngai Tuhoe has just completed her studies in medicine and surgery at the University of Auckland and is now working in Auckland Hospital.

Ms Cross from Ngati Raukawa is studying medicine at Otago after completing a BSc with honours.

Teresa Wall, the Health Ministry's deputy director-general for Maori health, says as well as setting high academic standards, the pair have acted as mentors to other students and participated in professional organisations.

“So there's a real commitment to their own development but also the development of their peers and a real commitment to progressing Maori health,” Ms Wall says.

People don't apply for the John McLeod Scholarships, which are in honour of a pioneering Ngapuhi public health specialist.

RIGHTFUL UNEASE ABOUT POVERTY PROGRAMME FUTURE

Labour's leader says Maori workers have good cause to fear the new National Government.

Phil Goff says the signs are there the minimum wage won't be changed, and working for families is unlikely to be upgraded.

Mr Goff says under the previous National Government the minimum wage went up just 63 cents in nine years.

Labour pushed it up from $7 to $12, and it also targeted assistance to low and middle income families.

“And I think it will leave Maoridom with an underlying ill ease about where the National government is going to go on that,” Mr Goff says.

Maori recognised Labour's support by giving it 50 percent of the party vote in Maori electorates.

ANNIVERSARY OF CONFISCATION ACT BRINGS PARALLELS

It's 125 years since one of the most oppressive acts ever on the statute book was passed ... and a prominent lawyer says the lessons of history aren't being learned.

Annette Sykes, who is defending Tame Iti against arms and possible criminal conspiracy charges arising from last year's police raids in Te Urewera, says the New Zealand Settlements Act claimed to be about the protection of both races.

In fact it was used to seize large tracts of land from Tuhoe, Tainui, Taranaki and other iwi who were alleged to be in open rebellion of Her Majesty's Authority.

“I personally have fund some parallels in how that section was used and how it was described in its colloquial use as the suppression of rebellion act. One might suggest that in 2007 the Suppression of Terrorism Act had some parallels to the kinds of extreme sentiment that was being expressed,” Ms Sykes says.

The Waitangi Tribunal has found the New Zealand Settlements Act breached the treaty, leading to significant compensation deals for many of the affected iwi.

Ethics debate ignoring Maori

A leading Maori human rights lawyer is criticising successive governments for favouring scientific and economic interests over Maori.

Moana Jackson will be speaking today in Auckland at an international conference on the ethics of research involving indigenous peoples.

He says while Maori have campaigned to stop multi-national companies taking rongoa plants from indigenous people, governments have not protected what is rightfully Maori.

“Maori have been in the forefront in the sense of being involved internationally in trying to get some protections here at home, but have run up constantly against the brick wall of the Crown paying lip service often to Maori interests but not being willing to consider a Maori framework or even a Maori philosophy in relation to these issues,” Mr Jackson says.

Issues being looked at the three day hui include transgenic experimentation whereby human genes are placed in other species and the patenting of plants.

OMBUDSMAN’S REPORT EXPOSES RACISM IN CLASSROOM

The country's first Maori child pyschologist is backing the Ombudsmen's call for more to be done to help students with behavioural difficulties to stay in school.

In the Office’s Annual Report to Parliament, the Chief Ombudsmen Beverley Wakem has argued that more consistent support needs to be available for students with behavioural difficulties in mainstream schools.

Donna Awatere Huata spent eight years as an educational psychologist in South Auckland... and is now the general manager for education services at the Waipareira Trust.

She says the Ombudsman, Beverley Wakem, has in bureaucratic language confirmed the fact that racism is alive and well in schools.

“We’ve known for a long time the Maori expulsion rate is double, treble and four times the non-Maori rate, and often for behaviours that are tolerated in their non-Maori students, so there is that factor definitely where people are willing to push the button where there is a Maori child in trouble, because there is this expectation there is not much you can do about it,” Mrs Awatere Huata says.

She says the three Maori education hui hosted this year by urban Maori authorities has shown there are solutions which require changing the attitude of teachers and giving them tools and strategies to deal with difficult students.

MAORI KING CONFIRMS WAITANGI DAY ATTENDANCE

The Maori King has confirmed that he'll be heading north next year to take part in Waitangi Day commemorations in Te Tai Tokerau.

It will be his first visit since he became the leader of the Kingitanga in 2006.

Pita Paraone from the Waitangi Organising Committee says they're honoured that King Tuheitia will take part in the official ceremonies to mark the signing of the Treaty in 1840.

“But it's also an opportunity for the people of the Tai Tokerau to renew the blood ties between those of the Tai Tokerau to those of the Kingitanga and in particularly the Maori king and his family,” Mr Paraone says.

The organising committee is expecting a huge crowd at Waitangi in 2009 as February the sixth falls on a Friday, making it a long weekend.

MAORI LEGAL SYSTEM STILL A DREAM FOR CAMPAIGNING LAWYER

Maori are moving to develop their own legal system rather than waiting for the Crown to come up with solutions to criminal offending by young Maori.

Human rights lawyer Moana Jackson says in 20 years since he wrote a report on Maori and the criminal justice system things have got worse with many more young Maori men and women in prison.

He says last week's Kahungunu justice hui looked at ways Maori could remedy the situation.

“You can’t look at criminal offending of young Maori in isolation from the much broader context of history and the social and economic forces which shape our people, so building more prisons isn’t the answer. What you have to do is rebuild and correct the damage that has been done to Maori society.

“Many of the recommendations that have been made by our people over the years on this matter have been ignored by the Crown so it’s perhaps time for Maori people to look at what we can do ourselves,” Mr Jackson says.

Solutions such as Maori setting up their own independent disputes resolutions systems will be developed by a working party and taken to iwi around the country.

BUSBY GETS HIS SEA LEGS BACK

He may be in his seventies, but Hekenukumai Busby has no plans to hit the couch just yet.

The Ngati Kahu and Te Rarawa man who's led the revival of ocean voyaging and navigation in traditional waka in New Zealand is keen to keep going to sea.

He's built 25 ocean going waka so far ... and is looking forward to taking his crew to Hawaii in 2010 as part of a documentary that Rawiri Paratene is filming about whales.

Mr Busby who is currently circumnavigating the North Island says it's been a while since he planned a major trip... but he's getting his sea legs again.

“My last voyage was to New Caledonia in 2000 and I haven’t been on a trip since then. It was pretty hard the first couple of days but now they rocking around on the waka sort of shaken me up an bit and feel a lot better, you know,” Mr Busby says.

LABOUR TO REACH OUT TO MAORI VOTERS

Labour will be holding a series of meeting saround the country asking Maori why so few of them voted in the last election.

“So I will be in a series of meetings with Maori over the next weeks and months saying to people tell us what your concerns are, tell us why you think it was people didn’t get out and vote for what they probably knew in their hearts was a better government from their perspective in economic and social terms.

“We’ve got to reconnect with the people. We’ve got to make sure that in 2011 we get that community out and voting because I’m confident if they do, they will be supporting a Labour government ahead of a National government,” Mr Goff says.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Tainui restructures management

Wholesale changes, not tinkering with the edges... that's how Tukoroirangi Morgan describes plans for restructuring of Waikato-Tainui's boards.

The chair of Te Arataura, the tribe's executive board, says it is managing around $600 million of assets for the benefit of the tribe's 51,000 members

He says the existing structure is 13 years old and needs to be streamlined... stressing the move is not about personal rivalries.

“This is about trying to leverage various business practices. The cream of the tribe’s talent and various contacts to drive social and cultural initiatives. This is the natural evolution of our iwi, Waikato-Tainui. We’ve grown up. We have huge capacity now and we’re at the next phase. We’re past post-settlement phase. We need to combine our resources while retaining the core focus to achieve the best for our people so when people say to me this is personality driven, absolutely nonsense,” Mr Morgan says.

The structural changes are in line with the tribes strategic plan... Te Whakatupuranga 2050... which was supported by 84 percent of the tribe's parliament... the Kauhanganui.

HIDDEN AGENDA REVEALED WITH STATE HOUSING FREEZE

Labour leader Phil Goff says Maori will be particularly hard hit by the government's "hidden agenda" to put a freeze on any new State houses.

Phil Goff says there is a disproportionate proportion of Maori people in inadequate housing who need the assistance of Housing New Zealand.

He says a freeze on new state houses announced yesterday by Housing Minister Phil Heatley is part of an agenda that was not revealed during the election campaign

“It just seems to me really dumb, when Mr Heatley himself spent all year criticizing the waiting lists for state houses, that they’ve now frozen the acquisition and construction of state houses when we desperately need to house people and families and particularly kids, because it is kids who are most affected, and at the same time we’ve got unutilised resources in the construction industry with the slow down in the building sector,” Mr Goff says.

He says the under-utilised capacity should be used to employ people and get families and children into decent homes.

VIOLENT PARENTING TACKELD AT IWI LEVEL

The trust set up to eliminate Maori Child Abuse is hitting the road this week.

Anton Blank from Te Kahui Mana Ririki says the message they're getting from iwi is that parents need non-violent ways to deal with their tamariki.

“We are working with iwi to look at family violence prevention strategies but we are focusing specifically on non-violent parenting so looking at parenting without hitting, and we’ve had some preliminary discussions with iwi and what we’ve found so far is that the repeal of Section 59 and the impact that has on families is still the major issue and our whanau don’t know how to parent without hitting, so we’re taking that message out,” Mr Blank says.

The trust will begin with sessions in Rangitukia on the East Coast before moving to Hastings to work with Ngati Kahungunu.

TAINUI LOOKS TO GLOBAL TURMOIL AS RESTRUCTURING HITS

Waikato Tainui will not be immune to the impact of the global credit crunch so the chair of the tribe's executive says it's timely that the tribe is reorganising itself.

Tukoroirangi Morgan says they're consolidating and streamlining the various separate entities, getting rid of six positions but creating ten new ones which will oversee all aspects of the iwi's activities, commercial, social and cultural.

He says the changes are in line with the tribe’s strategic plan, Te Whakatupuranga 2050, which was supported by 84 percent of the tribe's parliament, the Kauhanganui.

Mr Morgan says it's not about the people... they're all being encouraged to apply for the new roles... but the existing structures need a total overhaul.

“This is not tinkering on the sides here. This is a wholesale change because wholesale change has to come as a result of the river settlement. We didn’t have a river settlement 13 years ago. We had a land settlement. So this structure is 13 years old. It’s not adept, it’s not adroit, it’s not skilful to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” he says.

The iwi manages around $600 million worth of assets on behalf of 51,000 tribal members.

RMA CHANGES COULD THREATEN TREATY PROTECTIONS

Labour leader Phil Goff says the opposition will be closely scrutinizing any changes to the Resource Management Act to ensure that the Treaty process is not affected.

He says one of the huge achievements of the last government was moving the treaty settlement programme forward and he would be concerned if the process slowed.

“It may be a case the settlement process then is damaged by a new Resource Management Act that doesn’t give a fair say, both to tangata whenua and to other New Zealanders in terms of developments that may be undertaken,” Mr Goff says.

RICKARDS THANKS MAORI FOR RAPE CASE SUPPORT

Former assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards says the support he has received from Maori kept him going when he faced rape charges of which he was found not guilty.

Clint Rickards says the support he has received from Tainui has been unequivocal throughout his whole career but was particularly welcome during the last four or five years as he went through the courts.

“When you are down as low as you can go, to hear the comforting words of support from some of our kaumatua and kuia, it lights a fire inside you just to keep on fighting the fight. Our tupuna did that 150, 200 years ago and it just rekindles that fire inside you to fight that fight, especially when you’re right,” Mr Rickards says.

The newly-registered lawyer says he appreciates being offered a position by the Waipareira trust to work with young people.

Tainui restructures management

Wholesale changes, not tinkering with the edges... that's how Tukoroirangi Morgan describes plans for restructuring of Waikato-Tainui's boards.

The chair of Te Arataura, the tribe's executive board, says it is managing around $600 million of assets for the benefit of the tribe's 51,000 members

He says the existing structure is 13 years old and needs to be streamlined... stressing the move is not about personal rivalries.

“This is about trying to leverage various business practices. The cream of the tribe’s talent and various contacts to drive social and cultural initiatives. This is the natural evolution of our iwi, Waikato-Tainui. We’ve grown up. We have huge capacity now and we’re at the next phase. We’re past post-settlement phase. We need to combine our resources while retaining the core focus to achieve the best for our people so when people say to me this is personality driven, absolutely nonsense,” Mr Morgan says.

The structural changes are in line with the tribes strategic plan... Te Whakatupuranga 2050... which was supported by 84 percent of the tribe's parliament... the Kauhanganui.

HIDDEN AGENDA REVEALED WITH STATE HOUSING FREEZE

Labour leader Phil Goff says Maori will be particularly hard hit by the government's "hidden agenda" to put a freeze on any new State houses.

Phil Goff says there is a disproportionate proportion of Maori people in inadequate housing who need the assistance of Housing New Zealand.

He says a freeze on new state houses announced yesterday by Housing Minister Phil Heatley is part of an agenda that was not revealed during the election campaign

“It just seems to me really dumb, when Mr Heatley himself spent all year criticizing the waiting lists for state houses, that they’ve now frozen the acquisition and construction of state houses when we desperately need to house people and families and particularly kids, because it is kids who are most affected, and at the same time we’ve got unutilised resources in the construction industry with the slow down in the building sector,” Mr Goff says.

He says the under-utilised capacity should be used to employ people and get families and children into decent homes.

VIOLENT PARENTING TACKELD AT IWI LEVEL

The trust set up to eliminate Maori Child Abuse is hitting the road this week.

Anton Blank from Te Kahui Mana Ririki says the message they're getting from iwi is that parents need non-violent ways to deal with their tamariki.

“We are working with iwi to look at family violence prevention strategies but we are focusing specifically on non-violent parenting so looking at parenting without hitting, and we’ve had some preliminary discussions with iwi and what we’ve found so far is that the repeal of Section 59 and the impact that has on families is still the major issue and our whanau don’t know how to parent without hitting, so we’re taking that message out,” Mr Blank says.

The trust will begin with sessions in Rangitukia on the East Coast before moving to Hastings to work with Ngati Kahungunu.

TAINUI LOOKS TO GLOBAL TURMOIL AS RESTRUCTURING HITS

Waikato Tainui will not be immune to the impact of the global credit crunch so the chair of the tribe's executive says it's timely that the tribe is reorganising itself.

Tukoroirangi Morgan says they're consolidating and streamlining the various separate entities, getting rid of six positions but creating ten new ones which will oversee all aspects of the iwi's activities, commercial, social and cultural.

He says the changes are in line with the tribe’s strategic plan, Te Whakatupuranga 2050, which was supported by 84 percent of the tribe's parliament, the Kauhanganui.

Mr Morgan says it's not about the people... they're all being encouraged to apply for the new roles... but the existing structures need a total overhaul.

“This is not tinkering on the sides here. This is a wholesale change because wholesale change has to come as a result of the river settlement. We didn’t have a river settlement 13 years ago. We had a land settlement. So this structure is 13 years old. It’s not adept, it’s not adroit, it’s not skilful to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” he says.

The iwi manages around $600 million worth of assets on behalf of 51,000 tribal members.

RMA CHANGES COULD THREATEN TREATY PROTECTIONS

Labour leader Phil Goff says the opposition will be closely scrutinizing any changes to the Resource Management Act to ensure that the Treaty process is not affected.

He says one of the huge achievements of the last government was moving the treaty settlement programme forward and he would be concerned if the process slowed.

“It may be a case the settlement process then is damaged by a new Resource Management Act that doesn’t give a fair say, both to tangata whenua and to other New Zealanders in terms of developments that may be undertaken,” Mr Goff says.

RICKARDS THANKS MAORI FOR RAPE CASE SUPPORT

Former assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards says the support he has received from Maori kept him going when he faced rape charges of which he was found not guilty.

Clint Rickards says the support he has received from Tainui has been unequivocal throughout his whole career but was particularly welcome during the last four or five years as he went through the courts.

“When you are down as low as you can go, to hear the comforting words of support from some of our kaumatua and kuia, it lights a fire inside you just to keep on fighting the fight. Our tupuna did that 150, 200 years ago and it just rekindles that fire inside you to fight that fight, especially when you’re right,” Mr Rickards says.

The newly-registered lawyer says he appreciates being offered a position by the Waipareira trust to work with young people.

Rickards ready for all defence challenges

Former assistant police commissioner Clint Rickards has not ruled out defending people on rape charges.

Speaking after his admission to the bar as a lawyer, Mr Rickards - who was himself found not guilty of rape - says as an officer of the court it is his job to represent people and the jury's job to judge whether they are guilty or not.

“Rape trials certainly aren’t a priority but as a lawyer I would certainly, if the situation presented itself, then you are obligated to take on those cases, genuine cases I might add, and I’d certainly do those trials, but they’re not a priority,” he says.

Mr Rickards wants to get involved in Maori land law and employment law.

He is also looking at working with young people at the Waipareira Trust on a contract basis, an appointment which has been criticised by New Zealand Womens’ Refuge and other welfare organisations.

MAORI READY TO GIVE PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE

Meanwhile, the head of West Auckland based Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust, John Tamihere says he expects they are not the only Maori organisation willing to offer work to the former assistant police commisioner.

Mr Tamihere says as a former high ranking policeman and now qualified lawyer, Mr Rickards has significant capacity to contribute to the needs of both Maori and non-Maori living in Waitakere City.

“We won't leave him sitting rotting in a gutter somewhere because others have judged it politically incorrect to pick him up and offer him another shot. Waipareira exists for that and in fact most Maori organisations out there know that people have stumbled, fallen and erred. We will not run over the top of them, the way Pakeha people may want us to,” Mr Tamihere says.

He says Clint Rickards will be a positive influence on young men in West Auckland.

TE URI O HAU WANT CHANCE TO DEVELOP SHRUNKEN RESORT

The Maori trust planning to build a resort, coastal park and housing development at Mangawhai north of Auckland is confident it will gain consent for the project after slashing the number of homes proposed from 1400 to 180.

Te Arai Coastal Lands Trust, a joint venture between local Te Uri o Hau and Queenstown developer Land Trust, is applying for a third time to the Rodney District Council for a zoning change after previous applications were declined in the face of local opposition.

Te Uri o Hau chairman Russell Kemp says he is optimistic this time.

“It’s a matter of where the middle ground is. Can we build anything on there, or do we have to give it away. You know, 180 houses on a huge strip of land is not a lot at this time, but people should be honest and say ‘I think we can go with this,’ or ‘I think you need to do this before we’re satisfied.’ It’s been five years now, and in those five years we lose a lot of money by replanning and rezoning and all sorts, you know,” Mr Kemp says.

The park will provide a facility for people to camp, wander, ride horses and trail bikes while housing will generate income.

TE ARAI OPPOSITION PICKING ON MAORI PLAN

A trust wanting to develop housing, a resort and recreational park for the public at Mangawhai north of Auckland says stopping the project would be picking on Maori.

Russell Kemp, the chairman of the Te Arai Coastal lands trust, a joint venture between local iwi Te uri o Hau and Queenstown developer New Zealand Land Trust, says in a third application to the Rodney District Council for planning consent the number of houses has been cut back from 1400 to just 180.

He says it would be unfair if the council declined the new application for a change of zoning.

“I want to know, do they want us to do anything on our land, or they don’t want us to do anything. Because we’ve dropped right down to 180 houses on this huge strip of land. Now if that happens, I say they’re just picking on Maori for that particular piece of land. Because no one else is being stopped from building on any other area,” Mr Kemp says.

The new proposal protects conservation values, provides a park for the public and will generate income for the iwi.

PUBLIC HOUSING TO BE GUTTED UNDER KEY PLAN

Meanwhile the Greens have attacked the government's housing and employment policies.

Greens Maori issues spokesperson Metiria Turei says these policies will be a particularly bad for Maori.

“National is going to cap the growth in state houses and they’re not going to build any more once they get to that cap so there’s going to be a major issue with inadequate housing and people being left homeless, living in other people’s garages and things. There’s going to be job losses because National is going to be funneling money into public private partnerships leaving state servants and all of the people who rely on government or government agencies for employment with community organisations in all sorts of ways without jobs. Nothing in the Maori Party-National agreement is going to stop that from happening,” Ms Turei says.

FROM PADDOCK TO BOARDROOM A TRIP TOO FAR

A Wellington based community worker and sports broadcaster says with a change of government, Maori sports groups need to lobby more effectively for a greater slice of the sports funding pie.

Ken Laban, who does sports commentary work for Sky TV, says Polynesian people including Maori make up a huge percentage of participation rates in New Zealand’s six most popular codes.

But he says that is not reflected in the makeup of senior sports administrative bodies, or boards that decide where the limited sports funding available is spent.

“I hope that one of the challenges that Sparc, if they’re any good, over the next three or four years of the regime of this new government can address, is better representation of our people in significant positions of leadership. We’ve got plenty of people when it comes to getting the ball up, getting smashed and making tackles, but we don ‘t enough people in the board rooms, we don’t have enough people in executive management,” Mr Laban says.

Monday, December 01, 2008

Rickards confirmed in Waipareira youth role

The head of the Waipareira Trust has confirmed that they'll be hiring the former assistant police commissioner to work with rangatahi in West Auckland.

Clint Rickards, who was found not guilty of the historic rape of Louise Nicholas last year, was admitted to the bar as a lawyer last week.

John Tamihere says he recognises hiring Mr Rickards is an unpopular move but says he makes no apologies for trying to tackle Maori criminal offending.

“Clint will be helping us over here. Anything that drops our youth offending rates and constant and reoccurring ofending has got to be good for us. Ngawha prison filled up overnight. Maryvale just down the road which is a Tainui prison, filled up overnight. The women’s prison in Wiri filled up overnight, and those two prisons, 90 percent full of Maori,” Mr Tamihere says.

READ THE EVIDENCE SAYS COP TURNED LAWYER

Meanwhile former assistant police commissioner Clint Rickards has told critics of his appointment to work with youth at the Waipareira Trust that before criticising his ability to do so they should read transcripts of the court case which found him not guilty of rape charges.

Clint Rickards says he won’t respond to organisations such as New Zealand Womens Refuge who have publicly spoken out against his working with young people but says his credentials to do so are vast.

“I am not going to criticise them. They’re entitled to their opinion. What I’ve said to anyone who does criticise is you have to sit down and actually read the evidence, if you weren’t at court, sit down and read the evidence and maybe you may change your view. If you don’t, kei te pai. But you need to come from a position of knowledge as opposed to one of ignorance,” Mr Rickards says.

He worked with youth over 28 years in the Police and many of the programmes he has developed have been highly successful in reducing crime. He says this is his CV for the job.

KAHUI STEAMS INTO MOST VALUABLE PLAYER CONTENTION

Rugby commentator Ken Laban is singing the praises of young Maori centre Richard Kahui after the All Blacks unbeaten end of season tour.

The Wainuiomata based broadcaster says Kahui will develop into a top line All Black in the years ahead.

He says the midfielder showed his potential two years ago, in a stunning individual performance for Waikato, when they beat Tana Umaga's Wellington team in the final of the NPC.

“2008 has been a wonderful season for him. There’s no doubt he was MVP or close to MVP tin the test match against Wales and for me he’s the outstanding back of the 2008 tour. He’s a tremendous talent looking ahead to the future,” Mr Laban says

Kahui was among the best in Graeme Henry's all conquering squad which wrapped up their UK tour with a 32 to 6 win over England last weekend.

TUREI CALLING OUT PARTIES FOR FORESHORE HYPOCRISY

The Greens are calling on the government to immediately repeal the controversial foreshore and seabed legislation.

Greens’ Maori issues spokesperson Metiria Turei says National, ACT, United and the Maori party all voted against the legislation and they should now take action.

“When their agreement came out I was really disappointed they hadn’t made more progress on the foreshore given that was the kaupapa of the Maori Party from its beginnings and nobody seemed to be saying there was a real problem here, that all of those parties that are in government all opposed it and not a single one is going to do anything to repeal it,” Ms Turei says.

She says the government's agreement to review the legislation down the line to see whether it has delivered to Maori does not go far enough and is not binding if they find it to be detrimental to Maori interests.

Human Immuno-deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) first gained global attention in the 1980s... since that time the worldwide pandemic has seen thirty three million people contract the disease.

In New Zealand three thousand people have been diagnosed with HIV... and on average one person is infected every five days. Maori infection rates sit around 7 percent... although they make up 15 percent of the population

Anton Blank a Maori health advocate... says those figures should raise red flags with health workers and the Maori community.

“In every other area of health we tend to track proportionately or disproportionately so we need to think about why are our rates so low, is it because we’re not reporting or presenting, are there other issues that we need to look at,” Mr Blank says.

MAORI PERSPECTIVE ON NATIONHOOD FOR EXPORT

Students at Washington DC's elite Georgetown University are to be given a Maori perspective on New Zealand's search for nationhood.

The paper will be taught by Victoria University associate professor Danny Keenan, who is in the United States capital for the next six months on a Fulbright Scholarship.

He will be introducing the Americans to some of the ideas sketched out by fellow historians James Belich and the late Keith Sinclair in their histories of New Zealand.

“What those two historians don’t do I think is take enough account of Kingitanga, Kotahitanga Maori nationalist movements, Maori desires for tino rangatiratanga and that’s almost like a subtext within the notion of nationhood as it’s traditionally been conceived of in New Zealand so I want to present to the students but at the same time think through what can we say about nationhood in New Zealand,” Dr Keenan says.

The main purpose of his trip is to research 19th century records in the Bureau of Indian Affairs and compare those with the way New Zealand's Native Affairs department operated during the same period,.

He says Maori nurses need a distinct skill set, and the course will allow graduates to work with equal competence in both worlds and make a significant contribution to not only Māori health but also New Zealand’s health systems.

KEENAN AWARDED FULBRIGHT TO STUDY BIA RECORDS

A Maori historian is off to Washington DC to fossick in the files of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for comparisons with 19th century policies towards Maori.

Danny Keenan, an associate professor at Victoria University's Maori studies department, has been granted a six month scholarship to research and teach at Georgetown University.

He says while the scale of activities is different, there are similarities in the way the distrust native Americans had for the BIA and Maori had for the old Native Affairs Department.

“Well I used to work for Maori Affairs, and that’s why I’m always interested in native affairs in the 19th century. I’m interested in 19th century ways in which states governed native peoples and how they created policy or enacted policy at the bureaucratic level, and it just seemed to me a wonderful opportunity to go back to DC and work on this project for six months solid,” Dr Keenan says.

A bonus is that he will be in Washington for Barack Obama's inauguration as President on January the 20th - he was also in the city eight years ago for George W Bush's inauguration.

WORKER SAFETY NEEDS TO BE AT CENTRE OF MAORI FIRMS

Maori trusts and incorporations are being urged to make worker safety a priority.

Craig Armitage from the Labour Department's workplace health and safety unit says a third of Maori work in labouring, manufacturing or agriculture, leading to a high rate of work related injuries.

He says a Treaty settlements bring even more Maori into primary sector jobs in farming, fishing or forestry, there needs to be a real focus on safety.

“Those Maori business entities, how would you set them up to look after their workers, to think about their workers, to plan, to recruit, and to look after their workforce, because that workforce is critical to the success of those Maori business ventures ,” Mr Armitage says.

HARE PUKE REMEMBERED IN STAFF LEADERSHIP FUND

Wintec is to establish a scholarship for Maori staff in memory of its kaumatua, Hare Puke, who died earlier this month.

Chief executive Mark Flowers says the Tainui kaumatua had a profound effect on the Hamilton-based polytechnic through his creative and sympathetic approach to cross cultural issues.

The annual scholarship will fund periods of overseas study which are likely to enhance recipients’ careers.

Mr Flowers says the objective is to develop Maori leadership in tertiary education in the region by providing more opportunities for advanced professional development.

It will be directed at staff who have actively encouraged indigenous students to participate in higher education and complete their studies.

Between 5 and 10 percent of Wintec’s 600 staff, and 15 percent of its 6000 students, are Maori.

CAMPAIGNS ROOMS INSPIRE PARANOIA AT TWO ROOMS

Last year's police raid on Ruatoki has sparked some art ... and it's not from part time Tuhoe painter Tame Iti.

Brett Graham from Tainui plays on notions of Maori and militarism in his new show Campaign Rooms, at Auckland's Two Rooms Gallery.

It includes maps, plans, and a large model of a black stealth bomber, with a surface carved in whakairo style.

Dr Graham says he's been working with similar themes for several years, but the so called terror raids forced an aesthetic response.

“Especially after the raids in Ruatoki and all those associations with Maori and violence and how it was convenient for these governments, using that stick of the war on terror to sort of dump on indigenous groups and other dissidents and so on and throw them all under that same label, like Islamic extremists, that paranoia about brown people with guns, black people with guns, playing on that,” Dr Graham says.

Campaign Rooms will be at Two Rooms until December the 20th.

TERRORISM CASE ANALYSIS TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Meanwhile, the editor of book on the Ruatoki raids says the story still seems too hot to handle.

Danny Keenan says many bookstores seem wary of displaying Terror In Our Midst, which includes contributions from a range of Maori and Pakeha academics.

He says several mainstream media outlets spiked their planned launch coverage because of concerns over suppression orders associated with the depositions hearing for 18 of those arrested.

“I just don’t think the book’s well known. There are a lot of people who are really interested in getting consolidated comment on all aspects of the issue. I’m really happy with what we did because in a relatively short space of time we produced a snapshot of the issue covering all aspects of the issue, and the stuff we did is really good,” Dr Keenan says.

He is considering a follow up volume, once he's returned from a six month Fullbright scholarship to the United States.